- Raising both hands when saying the first takbir, when bowing, and when raising from bowing, then putting them down after that; because Malik bin Al-Huwairith –when performing prayer- used to raise his hands when saying the opening takbir, before bowing, and after lifting his head from the state of bowing. He narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to do like this.[1]

- Placing the right hand over the left on the chest while standing up.

- Looking towards the place of prostration.

- Standing with the feet apart.

- Holding the knees by the hands with fingers spread apart when bowing, and keeping the back straight and making the head parallel with it.

As for the desirable words, they are as follow:

- Reciting the Istiftah (supplication of commencement).

- The Basmalah (i.e. saying Bismillaah).

- Seeking refuge with Allah from Shaitan.

- Saying Ameen

- Reciting some parts of the Qur'an after al-Fatihah

- Saying the Tasbeeh in bowing and prostration more than once.

- Offering du’a (supplication) after the (last) Tashahhud and before the Tasleem (the end of prayer).

The Seventh Matter: Nullifiers of prayer

The things that invalidate the prayer are –in general- as follow:

1- Anything that invalidates the Taharah (purification) invalidates the Prayer also, since it's a prerequisite of prayer, and if it's invalid, the prayer is also invalid.

2- Laughing out loud. It invalidates the prayer according to the consensus of the scholars, because it's similar to speaking (during prayer), rather it's worse; It's considered a form of derogation and manipulation, which is contrary to the objectives of the prayer. As for smiling without making a sound, it does not invalidate the prayer, as reported by Ibn Al-Mundhir and others.

[We used to speak while engaged in prayer. A man (among us) used to talk to his companion standing next to him in prayer till (Allah) revealed the verse:(what means):{and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient}(Qur’an2:238), so we were commanded to observe silence (in prayer) and were forbidden to speak].[2]

However, if one speaks out of ignorance (of the ruling) or by mistake, his prayer remains valid.

4- Passing of an adult women, a donkey, or a black dog between a person who is praying and his place of prostration, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

[When anyone of you stands to pray, then he is screened if he has in front of him something as high as the back of a camel saddle. If he does not have something as high as the back of a camel saddle in front of him, then his prayer is nullified by a woman, a donkey or a black dog]

A saddle is a seat fastened on the camel for riding, like the one used on the horse, and the back of a saddle is equal to an arm length, which is the sufficient height of the Sutrah.

5- Uncovering the ‘awrah deliberately; as stated in the prerequisites of the prayer.

6- Turning the back towards the Qiblah; Because facing the Qiblah is a prerequisite for the validity of the prayer.

7- Getting in touch with Najasah (impurity) on the one who is praying, if he knows and remember it, but didn't remove it immediately.

8- Omitting one of the pillars (essential parts) or one of the conditions of prayer deliberately without an excuse.

9- Excessive movements other than the movements that are connected to the prayer for no reason, such as eating and drinking deliberately.

10- Leaning to the wall for no excuse; because standing upright is a condition for the validity of the prayer.

11- Deliberately adding or increasing a pillar, such as the addition in bowing and prostration. Because that affects the prayer’s structure. So, it invalidates the prayer according to scholarly consensus.

12- Deliberately doing some pillars before the right one; Because doing it in order is a pillar (an essential part) as stated previously.